Commuters face fares rise of 3.5 per cent

RAIL commuters in Henley face a 3.5 per cent increase in fares next year.

The cost of regulated fares, including season tickets, will go up from January. The rise was calculated using July’s Retail Prices Index, which was announced as 2.5 per cent by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.

Fares will increase by this figure plus one per cent annually as the Government attempts to transfer some of the cost of maintaining the rail network from taxpayers to passengers.

Based on an increase of 3.5 per cent, the cost of a First Great Western annual season ticket from Henley to London (not via Reading) will rise from £3,492 to £3,614.

Season ticket holders to London via Reading will see an increase in their yearly bill from £4,084 to £4,226. Travel from Henley to Reading will increase from £1,064 to £1,101 per year, while the fare from Henley to Oxford will rise from £2,772 to £2,869.